Julia reached out to me early in the fall. She and Brad set a goal in 2020 to check many big things off their to-do list: get engaged, buy a house, and get married. As we all know, 2020 didn’t come to play when it comes to wedding celebrations, but they weren’t going to let that stop them.
You’re allowed to self-solemnize in Colorado, so for the safety of their friends and family during the pandemic, Julia and Brad decided to have an intimate ceremony to exchange their vows to each other in their favorite place in the world, by themselves. And me. Nothing but respect for that.
Separately, we packed up our cars and made the world’s most boring drive through Kansas. However, this time it was through a snowstorm, so it wasn’t *quite* as boring, only slightly terrifying, accompanied by coffee and podcasts.
The aforementioned snowstorm is what put out the Colorado Wildfires, so we arrived just in time with a fresh layer of snow and clear skies. The next day, we met up at a coffee shop, drove our cars up the mountain, and hiked to their favorite spot. I was an idiot and forgot to put on my long socks (I packed them!), so I ended up with a lot of snow in my boots. Was it worth it? Yes. Am I still annoyed at myself for it? Also yes.
Julia and Brad exchanged their heartfelt vows at May’s Point, it was a gorgeous and very personal backdrop to begin the next chapter of their adventure together. We took photos, shared many laughs, they popped mini bottles of champagne to celebrate, then we made our way down to the bottom of the Flatirons, where they shared their first dance together and signed their marriage license. It was perfect.
As we’re waiting on everyone to get the COVID vaccine, I hope more people opt for adventurous, intimate elopements. You can always throw a big party once it’s safe to do so again. Don’t forget to have me tag along.
